Plate cylinder with plate clamps



Oct. 6, 1964 Filed April ll, 1961 R. K. NORTON PLATE CYLINDER WITH PLATECLAMPS 'w o# 'E' E; ya I am 121WSQ mi@ es? a ig [ya J; gf

65 al `ao L/s i salam 4 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

#asker /VaR To/v ATTb/P/vfys Oct. 6, 1964 R. K. NORTON 3,151,553

PLATE CYLINDER WITH PLATE cLAMPs Filed April 11, 1961 s sheets-sheet 2INV EN TOR.

Oct. 6, 1964 R. K. NORTON PLATE CYLINDER WITH PLATE CLAMPS 3Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April l1, 1961 INVENTOR. /PoeE/PT K /Vomv/v ATTaRA/fxs United States lPatent O pas 3,151,553 PLATS?. CYillelDJRWill-l Fin TE SLAB/WS lcbert K. Norton, Shin, assigner toHarrisllintertype larp-eration, Cleveland, Ghia, a corporation oiBelaware Filed Apr. il, 1953, Ser. No, 102,276 2@ Cl. lili-@Sil Thepresent invention relates to a plate cylinder for a printing press, and,more particularly, to such a cylinder having plate clamps for clamping aplurality of flexible plates thereto.

Certain types of printing presses use a iiexible plate which extendszuound the periphery of a plate cylinder and is clamped to the platecylinder by plate clamps which are disposed in an axially extending gapin t.e periphery or" the plate cylinder. Under certain conditions it isdesirable to be able to mount a plurality of plates, for example, twoplates, on the plate cylinder in side-by-side relationship, and at othertimes it is desirable to be able to mount a single plate on the platecylinder which extends the width of the cylinde in many printing runs,the image on the plate cylinder includes parts where different numbersof copies are to be run, e.g., when one part of the run is a calendarand another part an imprint which is to be changed several times for theparticular calendar. li a single plate on a cylinder were used to printand imprint a calendar, first the calendar part would have to be printedby one plate wd the calendar rerun with separate plates to do theimprinting. Similarly, when two separate items are to be printedsimultaneously, with one item requiring a larger number of copies thanthe other, if the cylinder were adapted to take only a single plate, twoseparate runs would nave to be made or the two images made on a singleplate and the larger number of required copies run for both images. if,however, the plate were made in two pieces or sections, the sectioncorresponding to the part of the image requiring the smaller number ofcopies can be removed after the smaller number of copies has been runand that plate section replaced by a plate section carrying a differentimage to be run. Alternatively, it can be appreciated that two platescould be made, one plate with the image requiring the larger number ofcopies and a lirst image portion requiring a smaller number of copies,and the second plate with the image requiring the larger number ofcopies and a second image portion requiring a lesser number of copies.This, however, requires the extra expense of a second full-size plate.

lt is also desirable to be able to mount plate sections or partialplates on the plate cylinder, since sometimes the making oi a full-sizeplate is considerably more expensive than the making of two half-sizeplates, even though the same number of copies of each plate section isto be run.

While printing presses have been provided wherein a plurality of platesections have been mounted in sideby-side relationship on a platecylinder, die plate clamping means has not proved entirely satisfactoryfor mounting and clamping either a plurality of plate sections or asingle full-size plate interchangeably.

lt is an important object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved plate cylinder having clamping units for clamping either asingle full-size iiexible plate thereon, or a plurality o part-sizeplate sections, with the plate clamping means being so constructed andarranged that the plate sections can be tensioned individually byadjusting individual plate clamping units for clamping the sections, orthe plate clamping units can be adjusted as a unit to clamp a singlefull-size plate to the plate cylinder.

it is a further object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved plate clamping means for the cylinder SSLS iinatented 0pt. 6,i934 ice of a printing press in which an elongated carrier membercarries a plurality of clamping units and is movable to adjust theclamping units away from an adjacent axially extending side of thecylinder gap to tension a full-size plate, and in which the plateclamping units are individually adjustable with respect to the elongatedcarrier member so that the units can be used to tension individual plateections clamped by the corresponding unit, with the carrier member andplate clamping units preferably having registering means for registeringthe plate clamping units with respect to the carrier member when theunits are to be moved together to tension a single plate.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved plate cylinder having plate clamping means for clamping asingle full-size plate to the cylinder or for clamping individualpart-size plates to the cylinder, with the plate clamping means being soconstructed and arranged that the full-size plate and the part-sizeplates can be tensioned individually and side-registered individually.

'if et another object of the present invention is to provide a platecylinder having an axially extending peripheral gap therein and whichhas a plurality of plate clamping units along each side of the gap forclamping a plurality of plates to the cylinder with each unit comprisinga bar extending lengthwise of the gap with the ends of each bar beingadjustable individually toward and away from the adjacent side of thegap to cock the bar and the plate clamping units being carried by acarrier bar which is adjustable to adjust the plate clamping units as asingle entity, the ends of the carrier bar being adjustable indi-Vidully toward and away from the side of the gap to cock the carrierbar.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following detailed description of the preferred embodimentthereof made with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a partof the present speciiication and in which:

FIG. l is an elevational View of the periphery of a cylinder looking atthe cylinder gap;

FlG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a part of FlG. l;

FG. 3 is a sectional view taken approximately along line 3-3 of FIG. land looking in the direction of the arrow with parts omitted;

FlG. 4 is a sectional view taken approximately along line 4 4 of FIG. l;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken approximately along line 5 5 of FIG. 2and looking in the direction of the arrow;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary detail perspective view of a part of the plateclamping mechanism shown in the other figures;

FlG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional View taken approximately along line7-7 of FlG. 2; and

FlG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective View of a modified form of plateclamp and plate aligning structures.

L1 accordance with the present invention, the plate cylinder of aprinting press is provided with plate clamping means which is disposedin an axial gap in the periphery of the cylinder and which is adapted toclamp a full-size plate or a plurality of part-size plates to thecylinder. rhe plate clamping means includes a plurality of plate clampsspaced along the length of the gap adjacent each axially extending sideof the gap with the plate clamps, at least along one side of the gap andpreferably along both sides of the gap, including clamping units forclamping respective part-size plates to the plate cylinder, with theclamping units being individually adjustable toward and away from theadjacent side to tension the plate clamped thereby. The individualadjustable clamping units along a side are also adjustable as a unittoward and away from y the adjacent side, and, in the preferredembodiment, Vthe individual clamping units are carried by an elongatedcarrier member which extendsfor substantially the full length of the gapand which can be moved toward'and away from the adjacent'side of the gapto simultaneously adjustthe plate clamping units thereon when the plateclamps are utilized to clamp a single plate'to the cylinder.

The individual plate clamping units are supported so that they can beindividually adjusted axially of the gap to eifect side registration ofa part-.size plate clamped by the unit. In the preferred embodiment, therespective plate cla'mpingrunits each comprise a plurality of clampinembers and a clamp bar which are adapted to receive the plate to beclamped therebetween. The clamp bar is mounted on the elongated carriermember or" the preferred embodiment for adjustment lengthwise of thecarrier member, i.e. axially of the cylinder, by adjusting means whichalso interconnects the carrier member and clamp bar for movement as aunit axially of the cylinder. The elongated carrier-.member is supportedin the gap for lengthwise movement, and mechanism is provided foradjusting the carrier member axially with respect to the cylinder tosimultaneously adjust the individual plate clamping units toside-register a full-size plate clamped by the plate clamping units onthe carrier member.

Preferably the clamp bars are mounted on their respective carrier memberso that each end portion can be adjusted individually toward and awayfrom the ladjacent side of the gap so that the clamp bars may be cockedand each carrier member is similarly adjustable so that it may be cockedin the cylinder gap. Y

In the preferred embodiment, each clamp rbar and the carrier bar havecooperating abutment means which limit movement of the clamp bar withrespect tothe carrier bar in a direction toward the adjacent side of thegap, but which allows the clamp bar to be moved relative to tl eYcarrier bar in a direction away from the adjacent side of the gap. Whenthe abutment means on the clamp bar is in engagement with thecooperating abutment means on the carrier bar, the plate clamp carriedby the plate bar is registered with respect to the carrierbar and, ifthe carrier bar is moved away from the adjacent side of the gap, theclamp bar will move therewith whereby the plate clamping units can beregistered with respect to the carrier bar and the carrier bar moved totension a plate clamped by the plate clamps.

Referring to the drawings, a fragmentary part of a plate cylinder foraprinting press is shown in FIG. 1 and is designated by the referencenumeral 19. The plate cylinder has a conventional, axially extending gap11 in the periphery thereof and the gap 1l has a leading side 12 and atrailing side 13. The plate cylinder is or the type onto which aflexible image-carrying plate of the etched type is to be clamped, andthe ilexible plate is shown in section in FlG. 4 and is designated bythe reference numeral 15. A plurality or" plate sections a, Sb areindicated in dot-dash lines in FIG. 1. The plate which is applied to thecylinder extends about the cylinder vand is clamped at its oppositeends, which ends terminate adjacent the'ieading and trailing sides ofthe gap by plate clamping means disposed in the gap 11.

The plate clamping means for clamping a plate to the cylinder 10comprises, in the illustrated and preerred embodiment, four plate clampsplaced axially along the leading side 12 and four oppositely disposedplate Yclamps disposed'axially along the trailing side 13 of the .gap1l. The plate clamps along the trailing side l have been given thereference numerals 17, 13, 19 and 2d, respectively, proceeding from leftto right as the plate clamps are viewed in FIG. l, and the correspondingplate clamps adjacent the leading side 12 have been given the sameVreference numeral with a prime-applied thereto. The `leading edge of aplate is clamped by the plate clamps Yso The plate clamps 17, 18cooperate with a clamp bar 22 disposed below the clamps 17, 18, whilethe plate clamps 19, 2t) cooperate with a clamp bar 23 disposedtherebeneath. Similarly, plate clamps 17', 18 cooperate with a clamp bar22 and plate clamps 19', Ztl. cooperate with a clamp bar 23'. For thesake of description, the sides of the plate clamps and clamp barsadjacent the nearer side of the gap will be considered as the forwardsides of these parts, and the sides thereof nearer the center of the gapwill be considered as the rearward sides. As is best shown in FIG. 3,the clamp bars 22, 23 are supported by an elongated carrier member orbar 25 which extends for substantially the length of the gap 11 and thebars 22', 23 are supported on Va corresponding carrier bar 25.

As is best shown in FIG. 2 and FlG. 4, the plate clamp 2li is rockablysupported on the clamp bar 23 and is rockable between an open positionand a closed position in which it is adapted to clamp a plate againstthe clamp bar 23. A pair of studs 27, 2S extend upwar ly from the clampbar 23 through enlarged openings 29 in the plate clamp Ztl. The studs27, 28 each have a nut 3d t ereon which has an arcuate or curvedunderside which is curved along an axis extending parallel to the clampbar 23. The arcuate underside of the nuts 3l? are designated by thereference numeral 31. The plate clamp 2li has arcuate recessesl whichreceive the nuts 39, and the undersides of the nuts form rockingsurfaces for the plate clamp2ll. rl`he plate clamp 20 has a portion 21aextending rearwardly from the studs 27, 2S in a direction toward thecenter part of the gap 11 and over an actuating rod 32 disposed alongthe rear edge of the clamp bar 23. The rod 32 is rockably received in asemicircular groove opening into the top of the clamp bar 23. The

Vin the underside of the plate clamp 2@ forwardly of the studs 27, 23,opens the clamp.. When the actuating rod 32 is rotated to the positionshown in FIG. 4, the plate clamp 2@ is actuated against the bias of thespring to a clamped position. The actuating rod has a collar 3S thereonwhich is bored to receive a wrench or tool for rotating the actuatingrod 32; Y

The clamp bar 23 is mounted on the carrier bar 25 for sliding movementrelative to the carrier bar and is movable toward and -away from theadjacent side 13 ot' the gap 11. The clamp bar 23 carries with it theplate clamp 2@ and also the plate clamp 19 and in FIG.' 4, the clamp bar23: is shown displaced -away from the side 13 and the carrier bar 25.The clamp bar 23 is spring urged toward the side i3 by springs all, 41which act on the bar adjacent the opposite end portions thereof, thesprings 4t), 41 being interposed between the rear Vside of the clamp bar23 and an intermediate, axially extending wall 42 of the gap 11. Thesprings dil, 4l are each disposed about a guide rod 43 which has a head4d that abuts the wall 42 and an end portion which is received in arespective bore in the clamp bar 23, the receiving bores for the rods 43Yextending in the direction of movement of the clamp bar 23 toward andaway from the side 13 of the gap. The springs 40, 41 act to urge theclamp bar 23 toward engagement with the side 13 of the axial gap 1l.

The clamp bar 23 is movable away from the side 13 in opposition to theaction of the springs 4i), 41 by means of screws 46, 47. The screws 46,i7 thread into receiving bores 48 in the clamp bar 23, the receivingbores 48 extending parallel to the direction of movement of the clampbar toward and away from the side i3. The bores 48 are counterbored 'atda at their forward ends and open into the forward side of the clamp bar23 and each counterbore 48a slidably receives a pin 49 that extendsoutwardly of the bore into engagement with the side 13 of the gap. Bylturning the screws d6, 47, the inner ends of the screws bear on thepins 49 and cause the clamp bar 23 to move away from the side i3 of thegap as the screws are threaded into the receiving bores 4. Thus, thescrews 4r?, 47 may be operated to tension a plate clamped between theplate clamps i9 and 2f; and clamp bar'23. The described parts foradjusting the clamp bar 23 have corresponding parts for effecting theadjustment of each of the clamp bars 22, 22 and 23 and these parts havebeen given the same reference numerals as the parts for adjusting theclamp bar 23.

it will be understood that, while the structure for mounting the plateclamp 19 on the clamp bar 23 has not been described, it is, in theillustrated embodiment, the same as the structure for mounting plateclamp Ztl on the clamp bar 23 and, therefore, will not be repeated. riheparts for mounting the plate clamp 19 on the clamp bar 23 which havebeen given a reference numeral have been given the same referencenumeral as the parts for mounting the plate clamp 2l) on the clamp bar23, and, similarly, this has been done in the case of the mountings forthe plate clamps 17, 18. The parts for mounting the plate clamps ELT-2Sand their respective clamp bars are also, in the illustrated embodiment,the same as the parts for mounting the clamp 29 on the clamp bar 23 andhave been given the same reference numerals as the corresponding partsfor mounting the clamp 2? on the clamp bar 23.

According to one feature of the present invention, the clamp bar 23 issupported on the carrier bar 25 for adjustment lengthwise of the bar,i.e., parallel to the axis of the plate cylinder lll, to eect sideregistration of a plate section clamped by the plate clamps i9 and 2t?.To this end, the clamp bar 23 has a block 52 which extends rearwardlyfrom the rear edge of the clamp bar 3 at the central portion thereof,and is disposed between spaced posts 54, 55 extending upwardly from abase 56 secured to the carrier bar 2S and underlying the block 52. Theblock 52 and the base 56 are adapted to move relative to each other whenrelative movement toward and away from the side 13 occurs between theclamp bar 23 and the carrier bar 25. A screw S threads into and througheach post 54, 55 and into engagement with the adjacent side ot the block52 to limit movement of the clamp bar 23 lengthwise of the carrier barand to interconnect the carrier bar 25 and the clamp bar 23 for movementas a unit in a direction parallel to the length of the carrier bar 25.The screws 58 are operable to adjust the clamp bar 23 lengthwiserelative tothe carrier bar 25.

The clamp bar 22 is interconnected with the carrier bar 25 in the samemanner as the clamp bar Z3, so that the clamp bar 22 andthe carrier bar25 will move as a unit when the carrier bar 25' vis shifted lengthwiseand so that the clamp bar 22 may be adjusted lengthwise along thecarrier bar 25. Accordingly, the parts interconnecting the clamp bar 22and the carrier bar 25 have been given the same reference numerals asthe corresponding parts interconnecting the clamp bar 23 and the carrierbar 25. This is also true with respect to the clamp bars 22', 23' andthe carrier bar 25.

The carrier bar 25 is adjustable lengthwise in the gap 1l by operatingscrews oil, 6l which thread into spaced projections 62 extendingrearwardly from the rear edge of the carrier bar 2S adjacent the centralportion thereof. The screws 6l), 6l. extend parallel to the length ofthe carrier bar 25 and thread through the projections 62 into engagementwith the opposite sides of a post d3 rising outwardly from the bottom ofthe gap il and disposed between the projections 62. The screws cooperatewith the post 63 to locate the carrier bar 25 lengthwise in the gap 1land permit the carrier bar 25 to oe moved toward and away from the side13 of the gap.

lt will be noted that the carrier bar 25' has a plurality of lips 65,one adjacent each of the plate clamps l-Ztl, which entend outwardly fromthe outer forward edge of the cmrier bar 25. The clamp bars 22, 2-3 arecut out at their forward edge on the side adjacent the carrier 'oar 2Sto provide cutouts 57 for receiving the lips et?, and when the clamp bar22 and the clamp bar 23 are in their forwardrnost position with theforward side of the clamp bar 23 against the side i3 of the gap, thecutouts each have a side 62 which engages the adjacent side 7 of theadjacent lip 6o to provide abutment mean which will cause the clamp bars22, 23 to move with the carrier bar 25 as the carrier bar 25 is shiftedaway from the side 'r3 of the gap ll. The connection provi ed by thelips de and the cutouts "57, however, permits the clamp bars T22, 23 tobe moved away from the side i3 of the gap il without moving the carrierbar 25.

The carrier bar 25 is adjustable away from the side 13 of the gap ll byoperating screws 72 which thread into receiving bores in the carrier bar25 that extend perpendicular to the side i3 and which open into theforward edge of the carrier bar 25. The bores are counterbored at theirforward ends to receive pins 73 which extend outwardly of the bores andengage the side 13 and, when the screws are threaded into theirreceiving bores, the inner ends thereof engage the inner ends of thepins and cause the carrier bar 2S to move away from the side T13. rllhescrews for the carrier bar 25 are shown in FiG. l and FIG. 2, and thedetail of the screw construction is similar to that shown in PEG. 4 forshifting the carrier bar 25', the parts for mounting and shifting thecarrier bar 25' being a duplicate of those for the carrier bar 25 andhave been given corresponding reference numerals.

When clamp bars 22, 23 are in their forwardmost position on the carrierbar 2S, the springs 46 will act through the abutment means provided bythe sides 6g and 7l? of the cutouts 67 and lips 66 of the clamp bars Z2,23 and carrier bar 25 to urge the carrier bar ov/ard the side i3 of thegap. Consequently, when the screws 72 are operated to shift the carrierbar 25 and clamp plates 22, 23 as a unit away from the side i3 or" thegap, this is accomplished against the action of springs 40; and when thescrews are operated to actuate the carrier bar toward the side 13, thesprings 4@ will act through the clamp bars 22, 23 to aid the return ofthe carrier bar 25.

From the foregoing, it can be seen that the plate clamps along one sideof the gap may be adjusted as a unit by adjusting the correspondingcarrier bar 25 or 25', or any individual plate clamp unit including theclamp bar and the plate clamps thereon can be adjusted individually.After adjustment, it is desirable that the carrier bars and clamp barsbe locked in their adjusted positions. To this end, a pluralit 1 oflocking screws and locking plates are provided for clamping the carrierbars and clamp bars against movement relative to the plate cylinder lil.Referring to FiG. 3, it will be noted that a pair of guide and hold-downplates '75, 75 are disposed adjacent the left-hand end of the carrierbar 25. The guide plate 75 engages the outer side of the clamp bar 22,while the guide plate 76 engages ti e outer side of the carrier bar 25,the clamp bar 22 being provided with a cutout 77 along the underside ofits left-hand end to receive the guide plate 76. Fi`wo screws 78 passthrough the plates '75, 75 and thread into the bottom of the gap lladjacent the left-hand end of the carrier bar 25, as the latter isviewed in FG. 3, and the guide plates are spaced on the locking screwsby bushings '79. Similar screws and guide and hold-down plates areprovided adjacent the right-hmd end of the carrier bar 25 and the clampbar 23, as the latter are viewed in FIG. 3, and have been given the samereference numerals as the screws and guide plates adjacent the left-handend of the bars. Similarly, a pair of hold-down screws Sd are disposedbetween the clamp bars 22, 23 and pass through an elongated opening S1in the carrier bar 25 to thread into the bottom of the cylinder gap 1i.The hold-down screws 80 pass through guide and hold-down plates 82, 83spaced by a bushing 84. The guide plate 32 overlies the outermost sidesof the'clamp bars 22, 23, while the guide plateSS, which may be awasher, is adjacent the top of the carrier bar 25, and the adjacent endsof the clamp bars 22, 23 are cut out to accommodate the guide plate 83.ln addition to the screws 78, 8i?, a hold-down screw 85 is providedbetween the plate clamps 17, 18, as well as between the plate clamps 19,2t), and the screws 35 are received in openings in the adjacent clampbar and the carrier bar and pass through these openings to thread intothe bottom of the gap. The openings for receiving the screws 85 areoversized openings which accommodate the adjusting movement of the bars,and the screws have washers under their heads which extend over andengage the outermost side of the adjacent clamp bar. Similar backingscrews and plates are used with the clamp bars 22', 23 and the carrierbar 25". Y

In use, the plate clamps 17, 1S and the corresponding clamps 17', 13',may be used to clamp one plate section to the plate cylinder, while theclamps 19, 2t) and the corresponding clamps 19', 20', may be used toclamp a second plate section to the cylinder, as indicated in dotdashlines in FIG. l. The leading edge of a plate section mounted on thecylinder by clamps 17', 18 and 17, 1S is clamped between clamps 17',18', and the trailing Vedge is clamped between the plate clamps 17, 18.The plate section can then be tensioned by adjusting the screws 45, 47for adjusting the carrier bars 22, 22 to move the carrier bars awayVfrom the adjacent sides of the gap 11 against the action of thecorresponding springs 49. lf the plate section i-s to beside-registered, the screws 58 for adjusting the clamp bars 22, 22' maybe operated to shift the bars relative to their carrier bar in adirection parallel to the axis of the cylinder. When a single fullsizeplate is to be mounted on the cylinder, the leading edge is clamped bythe plate clamps 1'7'2t' along the` leading side 12 of the gap 11, whilethe trailing edge of the plate is clamped by the plate clamps 17-29disposed along the trailing side 13 of the gap. When a full-size plateis Vto be clamped and a pin registering system, Vas

described hereinafter, is in use, it is desirable that the I' to causethe carrier bars 25, 25 to move away from the adjacent side of the gapand the full-size plate can be Vside-registered by operating the screws6), 61 to shift the carrier bars 25, 25' axially of the gap 11. f

The pin registering system, previously referred to, may comprise gaugepins for positioning the leading and trailing edge of the plate. A gaugepin 9i) (see FIG. 7) may be ixed in the clamp bar 22 adjacent theleft-hand end thereof, as it is viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2, so as to extendupwardly into Van over-sized opening in the plate clamp 17. The gaugepin is disposed just forwardly of the studs 27, 28 on the clamp bar 23,and the trailing edge of the plate is positioned against this gauge pin.Similar gauge pins are provided on the bar 23 and on the bars 22', 23'and have been given the same reference numeral, Ifl desired, the gaugepin 9@ may be replaced by an opening 92 in the clamp bar 22 which is tobe registered with a corresponding opening 93 in the plate, as is shownin FIG. 8. The plate clamp 17 immediately above the clampbar is providedwith an opening 95 which allows a Vremovable gauge pin 976 to beinserted through the opening 93 in a plate disposed between the plateclamp clamp then can be actuated to clamp the plate and the gauge pinremoved. The openings 92, 93 are such as to receive the pin 96 withY aclose lit, while the opening 95 is oversized. An'advantage ofthis'particular structure is that the plate is accurately registered,but there is no pin to elongate or tear the registered openings in thevplate in the event that the clamping units are moved to overtension theplate. Y

The use of a pin registering sysem on the plate cylinder and plate willgenerally assure that the leading and trailing edges of the imageportion ofthe plate are parallel to the trailing and leading edges ofthe plate so that, if

Vthe plate is registered to the pins or pin openings on the cylinder, itis only necessary to Vmove the carrier bars 25,V

25 toward and away from the adjacent side of the gap while maintainingthe bar parallel to the sides of the gap to effect proper tensioning andlocation of the plate., On cylinders which do not have such aregistering system, it is often necessary to be able to cock the carrierbars 25, 25 relative to the adjacent side of the gap to properly tensionor locate the plate and the described construction is such that this canbe done. The adjusting screw 72 adjacent the left-hand end of thecarrier bar 25, as the latter is viewed in FIG. 1, can be adjusted tomove that end portion of the carrier bar 25 away from the side of thegap to cock the carrier bar 25. This will carry with it the clamp bars22, 23. The structure of the post V63 and the screw 61 is such as toaccommodate limited angular movement of the bar and it is apparent thatadditional angular movement could be provided by rounding the ends ofthe screw 61. Similarly, the clamp bars 22, 22', and 23, 23' canV alsobe Vcocked with respect to their respective carrier bar. Each endportion of the respective clamp bars can be moved toward and away fromthe adjacent side of the gap individually of the other end portion tocock the bar by operating the adjusting screw 46 at that particular endportion of the bar. The connections provided by the bases 56 and theprojecting blocks 53 will accommodate limited angular movement of thecorresponding bars as in the case of the connections provided by theposts 63 and the screws 61. Consequently, if it is desirablerto cock oneof the clamp bars 22, 23 to properly secure a part-size plate to theplate cylinder, the described construction provides for this type ofmovement of the clamp bar.

It is to be understood that the adjustment or movement of the individualplate-clamping units or the carrier bar with the plate-clamping unitstoward and away from the adjacent side of the gap 11 is in platetension-relieving and Vplate-tensioning directions.

From the foregoing, it canV beseen that the present inventionprovides aplate cylinder. with plate clamping means which allows a singlefull-size plate to be mounted on the cylinder and tensioned orside-registered, or allows a plurality of plate sections to be mountedon the plate cylinder with eachfsection being capable of beingindividually tensioned and side-registered.

While the preferred embodiment of the present invention has beendescribed in'considerable' detail, it is hereby my intention to coverall constructions, modiiications7 and Y arrangements which fall withinthe ability of those skilled in the art and within the scope and spiritof the present invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim is: Y n

Y l. A printing press plate cylinder having an axiallyextending gap inthe periphery thereof and plate-clamping means disposed in said gap,said gap having trailing and leading sides extending parallel to theaxis of said cylinder and said plate-clamping means comprising aplurality of plate-clamping units spaced from each other along one ofsaid sides and each adapted to grip a plate, each unit havingplate-gripping portions separaterfrom the portions of the other units,carrier means supporting said plate-clamping units in said gap andmovable in a first direction to move said plurality of units as a singleunit in a platetensioning direction, means interconnecting said carriermeans and said plate-clamping units for etecting said movement of saidunits in a plate-tensioning direction with said carrier means, saidcarrier means supporting said plate-clamping units tor individualadjustment to move said portions in plate tension-relieving andplate-tensioning directions relative to said carrier means, adjustingmeans in said gap connected to the respective ones of saidplate-clamping units for individually and independently edectingmovement of said plate clamping units in a plate tensioning directionrelative to said carrier means and each operable individually andindependently of the operation of each of the other units with saidcarrier means stationary to adjust the position of each of said unitsrelative to said carrier means in said plate tensioning direction, andmeans connected to said carrier means for adjusting said carrier meansin plate tension-relieving and platetensioning directions.

2. A printing press plate cylinder having an axially extending gap inthe periphery thereof and plate-clamping means disposed in said gap,said gap having trailing and leading sides extending parallel to theaxis of said cylinder and said plate-clamping means comprising aplurality of plate-clamping units spaced from each other along one orsaid sides and adapted to clamp the plate, carrier means supporting saidunits in said gap and movable to move said units simultaneously in aplate-tensioning direction, said carrier means supporting said units forindependent adjustment of said units in plate tension-relieving andplatetensioning directions relative to said carrier means, means in saidgap connected to said umts for effecting said independent adjustment,means connected to said carrier means for adjusting said carrier meansin plate tensionrelieving and plate-tensioning directions, meansinterconnecting said carrier means and units for effecting movement ofsaid units with said carrier means in a platetensioning direction, saidcarrier means also being supported in said gap for adjusting movementlengthwise of said cylinder, second adjustment means for adjusting saidcarrier means lengthwise of said cylinder interconnecting said carriermeans and cylinder, and connecting means for interconnecting said unitsand carrier means for lengthwise movement as a unit comprising means forindependently adjusting each of said units lengthwise of the cylinderrelative to said carrier means.

3. A printing press plate cylinder having an axially extending gap inthe periphery thereof and plate clamping means mounted in said gapcomprising an elongated member extending lengthwise of said gap adjacentone of the longitudinal sides thereof and a plurality of plate clampingunits operatively connected to said member and spaced along said side ofsaid gap, said member being adjustable lengthwise of the cylinder andalong a path in plate tension-relieving and plate-tensioning directionswith respect to said side, means connecting each of said units to saidmember for movement therewith when the member is adjusted lengthwise ofsaid cylinder and when adjusted in a plate-tensioning direction withrespect to said side and including means for individually adjusting eachof said units lengthwise oi said elongated member relative to saidmember and means for individually adjusting each of said units relativeto said elongated member and in a platetensioning direction with respectto said side, and second adjustment means connected to said membercomprising means for adjusting said elongated member lengthwise of saidcylinder and means for adjusting said elongated member in aplate-tensioning direction with respect to said one side.

4. A printing press plate cylinder having an axially extending gap inthe periphery thereof and plate clamping means disposed in said gap,said gap having trailing and leading sides extending parallel to theaxis of said cylinder and said plate clamping means comprising a rstelongated member extending lengthwise or the gap adjacent one sidethereof, first adjusting means interconnecting said cylinder and memberfor adjusting said member lengthwise of said gap and parallel to saidone side, a plurality or" plate clamping units mounted on said memberand each including a iirst clamp member mounted on said elongated memberand a second clamp member mounted on said rs clamp member for movementtherewith, said clamp members of said units being adapted to receive andclamp a plate therebetween, individual means interconnecting each ofsaid rst clamp members and said elongated member and each constrainingthe corresponding rst clamp merl ber against movement lengthwise of thecylinder relative to said elongate member and including individual meansfor adjusting the corresponding tirst clamp member lengthwise of thecylinder and relative to said elongated member, each ot said individualmeans accommodating movement of the corresponding rst clamp member inplate tension-relieving and plate-tensioning directions with respect tosaid one side, adjusting means in said gap and connected to said firstclamp member for individually adjusting said first clamp members inplate tension-relieving and plate-tensioning directions with respect tosaid one side relative to said elongated member, and meansinterconnecting said iirst clamp members and said elongated member formoving said iirst members and said elongated me ber as a unit onmovement of said elongated member in a plate-tensioning direction withrespect to said one side, and means operatively connected to saidelongated member for adjusting said elongated member in platetension-relieving and plate-tensioning directions with respect to saidone side.

5. A printing press plate cylinder having an axially extending gap inthe periphery thereof and plate-clamping means mounted in said gapcomprising an elongated niember extending lengthwise or said gapadjacent one ot the longitudinal sides thereof and a plurality ofindividual plate-clamping units each adapted to grip a plate spacedalong the said side of said gap and interconnected by said member, rstmeans individual to said units for adjusting said plate-clamping unitsindependently of said plate including means connecting said units andsaid member for movement as a single unit in one plate adjustingdirection and means for selectively erlecting individual adjustment ofsaid plate-clamping units one at a time relative to said elongatedmember in said plate-adjusting direction with said elongated memberstationary, and second adjusting means interconnecting said elongatedmember and said cylinder for adjustment of said member relative to saidcylinder to move said plurality of units as a single unit in saidplate-adjusting direction.

6. A printing press plate cylinder having an axially extending gap inthe periphery thereof and plate-clamping means mounted in said gapcomprising an elongated member extending lengthwise of said gap adjacentone of the longitudinal sides thereof and movable relative thereto indirections in which a plate is to be adjusted, a plurality or"individual plate-clamping units carried by said member spaced along saidside of said ga each of said units being adapted to grip a platesection, lirst means individual to said units for adjusting saidplate-clamping units independently of said plate including meansconnecting said units and said member for movement as a single unit inone plate adjusting direction and means for selectively eiiectingindividually adjusting the positions of said units relative to saidmember with the latter stationary, and second adjusting meansinterconecting said elongated member and said cylinder for adjustment oisaid member relative to said cylinder, said second adjusting meansincluding means for adjusting said elongated member axially of saidcylinder and means for adjusting said elonvated member in a direction totension a plate clamped by said units.

7. A printing press plate cylinder as deiined in claim 5 wherein saidfirst adjusting means comprises means for individualii adustinff each ofsaid plate-clam ing portions l a l in plate tension-relievingV andplate-tensioning directions with respect to said one side.

8. A printing press plate cylinder having an axially extending gap inthe periphery thereof and plate clamping means in said gap adjacent oneaxially extending side 4thereof comprising an elongated member extendingaxially Yof said gap adjacent said one side and adjustable trans-Verseiy of said gap; a plurality of plate clamping units distributedalong'said one side and carried by said elongated member; each of saidunits comprising a clamp member mounted on said elongated member Jforadjustment transversely of said elongated member, a clamp jaw carried bysaid clamp member for translator-y movement therewith as a unit, springmeans operatively connected between said cylinder and saidjclamp memberand urging said clamp member transversely oi said elongated member andtoward said side, an abutment on said elongated member facing away fromsaid side and engaged by a part on said clamp member when said' clampmember and elongated member are in a predetermined position to transmitmovement of said clamp member toward said side to said elongated memberand movement of said Velongated member away from said side to said clampY rection away from said side and transversely of said elongated memberand against said springyand means connected to said elongated member foradjusting said elongated member away from said side.

9. A printing press plate cylinder as defined in claim 8 wherein saidfirst adjusting means foreach plate-clamping unit comprises a screwthreaded into the clam-p member of the unit and adapted to apply a forceagainst said side to move the clamp member away from said'side.

l0. A printing press plate cylinder as defined in claim 8 and furtherincluding means interconnecting said clamp members and said elongatedmember for movement as a unit lengthwise of said elongated member andincluding individual adjusting means for individually adjusting saidclamp members lengthwise or the elongated member, and meansinterconnecting said cylinder and elongated member for adjusting saidelongated member in a lengthwise direction relative to said cylinder.

11. A printing press plate cylinder as defined in claim 9 and furtherincluding means interconnecting said clamp members and said elongatedmember for movement as a unit lengthwise of said elongated member andincluding individual adjusting means for individually adjusting saidclamp members lengthwise or" j the elongated member, and meansinterconnecting said cylinder and elongated member for adjusting saidelongated member in a lengthwise direction relative to said cylinder. Y

12. A printing press plate cylinder having an axially extending gap inthe periphery thereof and plate clamping means in said gap adjacent oneaxially extending side thereof comprising an elongated carrier barextending lengthwise of said gap adjacent said one side and supportedfor adjustment relative to said cylinder, a plurality of plate clampingunits distributed along and caried by said carrier bar, each of saidunits comprising Va clamp bar mounted on said carrier bm for slidingmovement relative t'reretoY and a clamp jaw mounted on cach clamp barfor movement as a unit therewith and movable relative thereto to receiveand clamp a plate, individual adjusting means operatively connected tocach end portion or said carrier bar Jfor adjusting the end portion awayfrom said one side to move the end portion angllarly about the other endportion of the carrier bar, connecting means interconnecting said clampbars and said carrier bar to move as a unit on movement of said carrierbar away from said-one si e, and individual adjusting means connected toeach end portion of said clamp bars for adjusting the corresponding endportion away from said side relative tosaid carrier bar and to l2 movethe corresponding end portion angularly about the other end portion ofthe corresponding clamp bar.

13. A printing press plate cylinder as deined in claim l2 wherein aplurality of clamp jaws are mounted on each clamp bar. Y

14. A printing press plate cylinder as Vdeined in claim Yl2 whereinbiasing means urges said clamp bars toward said oneside and each of saidindividual adjusting-means for said clamp bars comprises a screwthreaded into the corresponding clamp bar and adapted to apply a forceto said one side to move the clamp bar away from said one side and saidconnecting means comprising abutments on said carrier bar facing awayfrom said one side and cooperating abutments on said clamp bars facingsaid one side.

15. A printing press plate cylinder as defined in claim l2 wherein meansinterconnects said cylinder and said carrier bar and constrains thelatter against lengthwise movement in said gap and includes means foradjusting said carrier'bar lengthwise of said gap and accommodating theangular movement thereof, and meansV inter- Y connects each otY saidVclamp bars and said carrier bar and constrains the clamp bars andcarrier bar to move lengthwise of said gap as a unit and includesadjusting means for adjusting said clamp bars individually relative tosaid carrier bar and lengthwise of said gap and accommodating angularmovement ofsaid clamp bars relative to said carrier bar.

16. A printing press plate cylinder as detined in claim 15 wherein aplurality of clamp jaws are mounted on each clamp bar.

17. A printing press plate cylinder having an axially extending gap intheperiphery thereof and a plate clamping means in said gap adjacenteach axially extending Vside thereofV and each plate clamping meanscomprising:

, clamp bar of the unit for unitary movement therewith and movablerelative thereto to vreceive and clamp a plate, individual adjustingmeans operatively connected to each end portion of the carrier bar foradjusting the end portion away from the adjacent side of the gap to movethe end portion angularly about the other end portion of the carrierbar, connecting means interconnecting the clamp bars and the carrierbar` tov move as a unit on movement of the carrier bar away from theadjacent side, and individual adjusting means connected to each endportion of the clamp bars for adjusting the corresponding end portionaway from the adjacent side of the gap and relative to the carrier barand to move the corresponding end portion angularly about the other endportion of the corresponding clamp bar.

18. A printing press platecylinder as defined in claim 17 wherein aplurality of clamp jaws are mounted on each clamp bar.

19. A printing` press plate cylinder having an axially extending gap inthe periphery thereof and plate-clamping means mounted in said gapcomprising a plurality of individual plate-clamping units havingplate-clamping portions adapted to grip a plate separate from each otherand spaced lengthwise of said gap adjacent one of the longitudinal sidesthereof, and adjusting means for adjusting said units independently ofsaid plate including means for .adjusting said plurality of units in aplate-tensioning 1B gap adjacent one of the longitudinal sides thereof,adjusting means for adjusting said units including means for adjustingsaid plurality of units as a single unit in a plate-tensioning directionand individual means for adjusting said clamping units individually andindependently of eeen other in a plate-tensioning direction, and meansfor adjusting said plate-clamping units simultaneously lenvthwise ofsaid gap and individual means for individually adjusting saidplate-clamping units individually and independently of each otherlengthwise of said gap.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS larkFeb. 13, Blaine Aug. 24, Blaine Aug. 27, Harrold une 24, Jacobson lune13, Harrold et al. ct. 9, Muellei Dec. 20, Penner Jan. 23,

1. A PRINTING PRESS PLATE CYLINDER HAVING AN AXILLY EXTENDING GAP IN THEPERIPHERY THEREOF AND PLATE-CLAMPING MEANS DISPOSED IN SAID GAP, SAIDGAP HAVING TRAILING AND LEADING SIDES EXTENDING PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OFSAID CYLINDER AND SAID PLATE-CLAMPING MEANS COMPRISING A PLURALITY OFPLATE-CLAMPING UNITS SPACED FROM EACH OTHER ALONG ONE OF SAID SIDES ANDEACH ADAPTED TO GRIP A PLATE, EACH UNIT HAVING PLATE-GRIPPING PORTIONSSEPARATE FROM THE PORTIONS OF THE OTHER UNITS, CARRIER MEANS SUPPORTINGSAID PLATE-CLAMPING UNITS IN SAID GAP AND MOVABLE IN A FIRST DIRECTIONTO MOVE SAID PLURALITY OF UNITS AS A SINGLE UNIT IN A PLATETENSIONINGDIRECTION, MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID CARRIER MEANS AND SAIDPLATE-CLAMPING UNITS FOR EFFECTING SAID MOVEMENT OF SAID UNITS IN APLATE-TENSIONING DIRECTION WITH SAID CARRIER MEANS, SAID CARRIER MEANSSUPPORTING SAID PLATE-CLAMPING UNITS FOR INDIVIDUAL ADJUSTMENT TO MOVESAID PORTIONS IN PLATE TENSION-RELIEVING AND PLATE-TENSIONING DIRECTIONSRELATIVE TO SAID CARRIER MEANS, ADJUSTING MEANS IN SAID GAP CONNECTED TOTHE RESPECTIVE ONES OF SAID PLATE-CLAMPING UNITS FOR INDIVIDUALLY ANDINDEPENDENTLY EFFECTING MOVEMENT OF SAID PLATE CLAMPING UNITS IN A PLATETENSIONING DIRECTION RELATIVE TO SAID CARRIER MEANS AND EACH OPERABLEINDIVIDUALLY AND INDEPENDENTLY OF THE